Hand brake



Sept. 20, 1932. H. FUCHS HAND BRAKE Filed Oct. 15. 1930 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 rATEs "PATET-A HENRY FUCHS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINER, INC., OF CHICAGO,

FEQE

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HAND BRAKE Application filed October 15, 1930. Serial No. 488,826.

This invention relates to improvements in hand brakes.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and eificient hand brake mechanism.

of the rotary type, including a rotary winding member and means for actuatin the same, wherein the'latter is held againstTJackward rotation and means is provided for disconnecting the actuating means from the 1H winding means to eiiect release of the brakes,

thereby permitting free rotation of the winding means in unwinding direction without imparting rotation to the actutating means, entirely eliminating spinning thereof, and 1 protecting the brakeman against injury.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide, in a hand brake mechanism of the character indicated in the preceding para graph, releasable clutch means between the actuating means and the Winding means, which clutch means is carried entirely by the operating hand wheel, whereby the hand wheel unit, including the releasing means, may be employed in connection with any type of rotary brake mechanism, as for example, a

brake wherein the hand wheel directly operates a staif on which the chain is wound, a

brake mechanism wherein the hand wheel actuates gear means cooperating with gear means fixed to the winding drum, and all other types of brakes driven by a rotary shaft.

()ther objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. 7

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through the vertical end wall of a railway car illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a vertical, sec tional View, corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Figure 1, said view bein on an enlarged scale and a certain cover plate shown in Figure 1 being removed. Figure 8 is a transverse, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line l--CL of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 55 of Figure 2. And Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 66 of Figure 1.

' In said drawing, 10 designates the vertical end Wall of a railway car, on which my improved hand' brake mechanismis mounted. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the operating mechanism proper is preferably contained within a housing comprising sections 11 and 12. The section 12 is in the form of a plate forming the back wall of the housing and the section 11 is in the form of a cover member secured-to said back wall, the cover member and the back wall being provided with alined lugs through which securing rivets 13 extend, the rivets preferably also being employed to fix the housing to the end wall 10 of the car. The housing is open at the bottom, as clearly shown in Figure 1, soas to accommodate the brake chain 14 for movemerit.

The brake chain is connected to the brake mechanism proper of the car in the usual manner.

My improved brake mechanism comprises broadly a chain winding drum A; a drum gear 13; an operating shaft G; a. drive gear D; ahand wheel E; a clutch element F; a carrier ring G a plurality of clutch fingers HH; a releasable clutch locking means K; a ratchet L, and a releasable locking dog M The chain winding drum A is of well known form and is preferably fixed to a supporting shaft 14 rotat-ably journaled in bearing openings 15-15 provided in the front and rear walls of the housing. As shown. the central port-ion of the shaft 14: is of square cross section and fits within square openings provided in the hub of the drum member, whereby the drum member is fixed to the shaft for rotation in unison therewith. As shown, the drum member is of conical form and has the gear member B formed integral therewith. The chain 1 is secured to the drum by means of a bolt 16 extending through an outstanding lug17 on the drum, through the end link of the chain, and an opening provided in the web portion of the gear member B; v

The operating, shaft C is journaled in the front and rear walls of the housing, and as winding operation in release of the brakes- The shaft C extends through the front wall of the housing and has the hand wheel E mounted thereon. As most clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and l, the shaft C has the ciutcii section F formed adjacent the outer end tnereof, the clutch section being of substantially cylindrical form and having a plurality of peripheral wedge faces -20. The wedge faces 20, as shown in Figure 2, are preferably four in number and are equally spaced. Each of these faces are arranged at a relatively keen wedging angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to a radial plane of the shaft C.

The hand wheel E is provided with a sleevelike hub section 21 surrounding the shaft C. At the outer end the sleeve-like section 21 is enlarged, as indicated at 22, and forms a housing for the carrier ring G, which cooperates with the clutch element F. As shown, the carrier ring G is freely rotatable within the enlarged portion 22 of the sleeve-like hub section of the hand wheel E and about the outer end portion of the shaft 0. The carrier ring is held within the hub by means of a cover plate 23 fixed to the outer face of the hub. The enlarged portion 22 of the hub section is provided with four radially disposed, interior pockets 2 l24. The pockets 24 are equally spaced and each has a radial wall 25 and an inclined wall 26. The ring G is provided with four radially disposed guideways 27-27 within which the clutch fingers HH are slidable. Each clutch finger H extends entirely through the ring G and has wedge faces at the opposite ends thereof, correspondingly inclined to and cooperating with the wedge faces 20 and 26 of the element E and the enlarged portion 22 of the hub section of the hand wheel. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the wedge faces 26 are inclined at keener angles than the wedge faces 20. The pockets 24 are of greater width than the corresponding ends of the clutch fingers H, whereby lateral motion of the clutch fingers with respect to said pockets is permitted. The hub section 22 is also provided with a. pair of diametrically opposed, interior openings 2828 providing spaced limiting shoulders 2929. The ring G has, a pair" of diametrically opposed stop lugs 30-3O operating in. the recesses .2828. As most clearly shown in Figure 5, each stop lug has a flat side face 31 and is beveled at the top, as indicated at 32. A releasable locking'member K cooperates with the two lugs 3030 of the ring G. The locking member is of U-shape form having a pair of spaced arms 33-33 slidable in alined openings in the enlarged hub section 22 and the cover plate 23. The arms 33 extend through the opposed openings of the hub section 22 and have their outer ends reduced, as indicated at 34, said reduced ends having coiled springs 3535 mounted thereon, which cooperate with the inn r face of the enlarged portion 22 of the hub and nut members at the outer ends of the arms. The portions 33 of the arms extending through the openings 28- 28 of the hub section 22 are of such a thickness that when the arms are in their innermost position, the same fill the space between the lugs 30 of the ring G and the opposed shoulders 2929 on the hub section 22, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The portion between the section of each arm lastreferred to and the reduced outer end thereof is beveled, as indicated at 36, so as to cooperate with the beveled portion 32 of the correspondin lug to force the ring G backwardly in case the same is not completely returned in the releasing operation of the brakes. Inward movement of the arms 33 of the U-shaped locking means K is limited by collars 37-37 cooperating with the cover p 23 of the hub of the hand wheel. The springs 3535 normally hold the locking memb-er K in the innermost position.

Backward rotation of the hand wheel E and the chain winding drum when operatively connected thereto is prevented by the cooperating ratchet L and loci-Zing dog M The ratchet member L is formed integral with the inner end portion of the slec s of the hub of the hand wheel, as clearly shown in'Figures l, 3 and 4-. The locking dog is gravity actuated and is suitably pivoted on the front wall of the housing by means of a pivot pin 38. i

The operation of my improved hand brake mechanism is as follows: lVith the parts in the position shown in the drawing, that is the rele hic clutch means K in its iii-nermost poo. ion, the clutch fingers HH are held in clutchin engagement with both the clutch lement F of the shaft C and the hub ion of the hand wheel E. As will be evint, due to the tight clutching engagement provided, rotation of the hand wheel E in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, effect rotation. of the driving shaft C in milar direction and through the coopin gears D and B, rotation will be im- "ed to the drum A in con ra-clockwise 1 .ion, thereby winding the chain 14 aereon and tightening the brakes. In re- ..ing the brakes, the locking member K is ruled outwardly against the tension of the rings 35 35, thereby bringing the reduced J-ortions of the arms into alinement with the lugs 30 of the ring G. Due to the pull of the brake chain in unwinding direction, the shaft C will be forced to rotate in a contra-clockwise direction, thereby forcing the clutch fingers H-H radially outwardly.

movement in a clockwise direction of the lugs on the ring G.

During this releasing action, the hand wheel will be positively held against backward rotation by means of the locking dog M cooperating with the ratchet L on the hub of the hand wheel. Spinning of the. hand wheel in release is thus positively eliminated,

thereby protecting the brakeman against injury.

In a ain ti htenin the brakes the hand wheel E is rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby causing the fingers H to rotate therewith, the ring G being moved with the fingers. As this movement continues, the fingers II will be brought into registration with the wedge faces on the clutch element of the shaft 0. On account of the wedgin action between the wedge faces 26 of the hu 22 of the hand wheel and the outer wedge faces of the fingers H, the latter will be forced inwardly into tight engagement with the wedge faces of the clutch element F. During this time the ring G will back up to the position shown in Figure 2 and the clutch locking means K will be pulled inwardly by the springs 35, thereby again bringing the thicker portions of the arms 33 into opposed relation to the lugs 30-30 of the ring G and locking the ring against rotation'with respect to the hand wheel. hen the parts are thus tightly locked together, the mechanism is again in the operative position hereinbefore described and the brakes are tightened in the manner hereinbefore referred to.

I have herein shown and described whatI now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a hand brake, the combination with a rotary chain winding member; of means for rotating said member, including a rotary shaft; a hand wheel; and clutch means for operatively connecting the hand wheel and shaft, said clutch means including clutch fingers having clutching engagement with the shaft, and means actuated by rotationof the hand wheel in chain tightening direction for operating said fingers to clutch the shaft.

'2.'In a'hand brake, the combination with a rotary chain winding member; of means for rotating said member, including a rotary shaft; a hand wheel; clutch means for opera? tively connecting the hand wheel and shaft, said clutch means including clutch fingers having clutching engagement with the shaft, and means actuated by rotation of the hand Wheel in chain tightening direction for operating said fingers to clutch the shaft; and releasable means for locking said clutch means in operative position.

3. In a hand brake, the combination with a rotary chain winding member; of means for rotating said member, including a rotary shaft; a hand wheel; clutch means for operatively connecting the hand wheel and shaft, said clutch means including clutch fingers having clutching engagement with the shaft,

and means actuated by rotation of the hand wheel in chain tightening direction for operating said fingers to clutch the shaft releasable means for locking said clutch means in operative position; and means actuated by rotation of said winding means in unwinding direction for disengaging said clutch fingers when said locking means is released.

4. In a hand brake, the combination with a rotary chain winding member; of means for rotating said member, including a rotary shaft; a hand wheel; clutch means for operatively connecting the hand wheel and shaft, said clutch means including clutch fingers having clutching engagement with the shaft,

and means actuatedby rotation of the hand wheel in chain tightening direction for operating said fingers to clutch the shaft; releasable means for locking said clutch means in operative position; means actuated by rotation of said winding means in unwinding di rection for disengaging said clutch fingers when said locking means is released; and

means for preventing backward rotation of said hand wheel while said clutch is being released.

. 5. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary shaft, said shaft having wedge faces; of a carrier rotatable about said shaft; an operating hand wheel having hub portion rotatable about said carrier, said hub portion having a plurality of wedge faces thereon; and a plurality of sliding clutch fingers mounted on said carrier and having wedging engagement at opposite ends with said wedge faces of said shaft and hub portion respectively.

6.. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary shaft through which the brake-is actuated, said shaft having wedge faces thereon a carrier rotatable about said shaft; an operating hand wheel having a hub portion rotatable about said carrier, said hub portion having a plurality of wedge faces thereon; a plurality of sliding clutch fingers mounted on said carrier and having wedging engagement at opposite ends with said wedge faces of said shaft and hub portion respectively; and releasable means for locking said carrier to said hub portion with the fingers in clutching engagement with said shaft.

7. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary shaft havin a cylindrical clutch section; a ring journaled on said clutch section; a hand wheel having a sleeve portion journaled on said ring; a plurality of fingers radially slidable in said ring, each i of said fingers having clutching engagement at opposite ends with said ring and sleeve respectively, the cooperating wedge faces of said sleeve and finger being lreener with respect to the longitudinal axis of said finger than the cooperating faces of said clutch section and finger.

8. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination With a rotary shaft naving a cylindrical clutch section; a ring ournaled on said clutch section; a hand wheel having a sleeve portion ournaled on said ring; a plurality of fingers radially slidable in said ring, each of said fingers having clutching engagement at opposite ends with said ring and sleeve re spectively, said ring havin lugs having shouldered engagement with said sleeve for limiting the rotation of said ring and sleeve; and areleasable locking member cooperating with said lugs for locking the ring and sleeve against relative rotation.

9. In a hand brake mechanism, the combination with a rotary shaft having a cylindrical portion provided with a plurality of peripheral wedge faces; of a ring journaled on said portion, said ring having radial guideways therein corresponding in number to said wedge faces; a hand wheel having a sleeve-like hub section journ aled on said ring, said sleeve-like section having a plurality of interior pockets therein, corresponding in number to said wedge faces, each pocket having a wall thereof provided with a wedge face; a clutch finger slidable in each guideway of said ring, each clutch finger extending into one of said pockets and having wedging engagement with the wedge face of said cylindrical enlargement and the hub section, said finger being laterally movable in said pocket, said ring having a lug thereon cooperating with spaced shoulders on said hub section for limiting relative rotation of said ring and hub section; and releasable locking means adapted to be interposed between said lug and one of said shoulders on said hub section for locking the ring to said section, thereby holdin the clutch finger in clutching engagement with the hub section and said cylindrical portion of the rotary shaft.

10. In a hand brake mechanism, the'combination with a rotary shaft having a cylindrical portion provided with a plurality of peripheral wedge faces; of a ring journaled on said portion, said ring having radial guideways therein corresponding in number to said wedge faces; a hand wheel having a sleeve-like hub section journaled on said ring, said sleeve-like section having a plurality of interior pockets therein, corresponding in number to said wedge faces, each pocket having a wall thereof provided with a wedge face; a clutch fingerslidable in each guideway of said ring, eachclutch finger ext-ending into one of said pockets and having wedging engagement with vthe wedge faces of said cylindrical portion and the hub section, said finger being laterally movable in said pocket, said ring having a lug thereon co-operating with spaced shoulders on said hnb section for limiting relative rotation of said ring and hub section; a releasable looking means adapted to be interposed between said lug and one of said shoulders on said hub section for locking the ring to said section, thereby holding the clutch fingers in clutching engagement with the hub section and said c y'lindrical portion of the rotary shaft; a ratchet member fixed to said hand wheel; and a releasable dog cooperating with said ratchet member.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of October, 1930.

HENRY FUCHS. 

